CopticChristian I have to address this post. You just accused me of making generalizations and chastised me about doing it. Well, I need to inform you that you have made the most flagrant generalization of this whole thread.
Let me be more specific since you do not grasp what I am saying. I see dysfunctional, judgmental thinking in the other than Catholic postings. I challenge anyone to read the postings by other than Catholic & Lutheran and compare them as to the writings. I see Catholics & Lutherans speaking only of their personal experience and not translating that to what others SHOULD do. When any one sees that that is a red flag.
What evangelical Protestants criticize
It is dysfunctional to generate criticisms and in fact generating the belief that there is some authority to do so.
I think there is a quality-control problem.
The discussion of “personal relationship with Jesus Christ” is a prime example of poor Protestant quality control.
What in the world is quality control? Children, people are led to believe that they are not good enough. Who is anyone to judge if someone is good enough to start with and then to judge that their Christianity in practice is good enough as it regards a relationship with the saviour.
My post is not about judging people at all. I do not know the heart of any person but my own. **However, **I do know that there are people who go through a process of initiation and conversion in the church (whether they be Catholic or Protestant) and nothing ever comes out of that.
This sort of statement is like saying " I love you BUT you are ugly", or “I love you HOWEVER you smell”…it negates everything you said before. When you insert however or but…when you say you do not judge you then follow with a judgmental statement.
It is** not enough**
has to become real
Thus, affiliation with a church is not enough.
When we are truly in relationship
This is all dysfunctional. Son you are not truly my son, it is not enough and you are not truly in relationship with me…What kind of message do you think this generates. I don’t want someone believing they have the power to make me feel that what I do is not good enough, and untrue…God didn’t make no junk. These are signs of judgmental thinking.
the Catholic Church as a truly Christian church which has some theological and practical elements which are questionable.
So when they meet a Catholic who is not very engaged in their faith, they see a soul that needs Jesus to be real to them.
Since there are questionable elements and there is a chance that Catholics are not truly Christian the judgment comes “are you truly engaged”.? How do you know? This is Catholic Answers. Do you believe that the Catholic Church is Christian? What elements are questionable? How do you judge when a Catholic is engaged in their Faith. These are all elements of a dysfunctional Family member questioning a sibling.
They are labeled “backsliders” who have walked away from Jesus and need to return to him.
There salvation is in doubt, and we wont give them any false sense of security.
They wont be permitted to have a leadership role or any type of position of responsibility.
So if my actions are contrary to those of Christ, then the church cannot give me a false sense of security.
Life is not easy…I cannot imagine ever having encountered a family member or a Catholic Church member labeling me a “backslider”…hey backslider how are you doing…This is reminiscent of the Scarlet letter…let’s all go get our sin tatooed on our forehead…Hey how are you fine…can you check my label please…BACKSLIDER, BACKSLIDER…go away…Can you imagine me telling my sister…I think you’re salvation is in doubt…I don’t want you to feel secure…God forbid you make your brother and sisters feel any security let alone a false security…how about working out your own salvation with fear and trembling…
I think many evangelicals perceive from what they know of the Catholic church that within it is a permissiveness to sin as long as one does all the right things, like go to confession where they are absolved.
Yes, the logical outcome of evangelical belief is the acknowledgement that not everyone who claims to know Jesus in fact knows him
I sad specifically and quite clearly that evangelicals criticize the fact, the existence, the concept of a “Christian in name only.” Who are these “Christians in name only?”
That was NOT a criticism of Catholicism. There are Catholics who do know Jesus.
There is no permisiveness to sin just an avenue to forgivness and grace. You look at this as a cup half empty not a cup half full.
I have asked for and have yet to get the elements of the logical outcome. Claiming that those that claim something can be wrong in their claim is a judgment. Criticism of others appears to be the norm. Christian in name is a judgment. There are Catholics and they all know Jesus, some better than others but who am I to determine that and why is this mentioned believing that it is not a criticism of Catholicism.
I hope this clarifies your lack of understanding.
